ADF support G20 Leaders Summit

As the world's 20 most powerful leaders prepare to meet in Brisbane for the Group of Twenty (G20) Leader’s Summit, they will be supported by ADF personnel while Brisbane City goes into lockdown.

The G20 will be held on November 15-16 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank.

Approximately 2000 soldiers, sailors and airmen will support the Queensland Police Service and other government agencies with force elements such as Black Hawk helicopters, F/A-18 Hornets, clearance divers, explosive ordnance detection dogs and members of Special Operations Command. Close to 200 additional troops are also on call to support in providing a safe and secure environment for the G20.

Commander ADF Support to G20 Security, Major General Stuart Smith, said the G20 Task Force had been planning and preparing for the event over the past 18 months.

“This has been in cooperation with the Queensland Police Service as well as State and Federal Government agencies,” Major General Smith said.

“The Task Force has been conducting as series of rehearsals using the most modern security procedures and state-of-the-art security equipment.

“The ADF is fit and ready to provide the support required of us by the Australian Government.”

Air Force assets used in support of Air Service Australia during the G20 will include F/A-18 Hornets, the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport and the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control platform. The G20 Air Task Group will also deploy a tactical air defence radar system, the AN/TPS-77, to supplement existing civilian and military air traffic control radars which provide coverage of the skies around Brisbane.

Commander G20 Air Task Group, Wing Commander David Smith, said Air Force assets had been rehearsing to ensure they operated effectively in the Brisbane airspace.

“We are confident in our procedures for the security of the airspace and how the Air Task Group integrates with the other Government agencies,” Wing Commander Smith said.

“The Air Task Group will be able to provide the Task Force and the commanders with full awareness of what is happening the air, while allowing the normal airspace users to operate.

“The scale of Air Force support is similar to the support provided for the security arrangements of the Sydney Olympics 2000, Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006, APEC 2007 and CHOGM 2011.”

The Special Forces elements supporting the G20 are drawn from the Sydney based 2nd Commando Regiment with other Special Operations Command personnel including engineers, logisticians and support staff.